Tennessee governor signs bill to wipe out gay legal protection

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Back to the days of the Scopes Trial etc…can they be any more antedeluvian in their attitudes than they are, or seem to grow every day? One hopes that someone in DC does something about this. It is insane how a supposedly democratic country ‘of the free’ can still single out a group for outright discrimination.

David, we’re the last group they can hate and blame for societies’ ills. We’ve more or less replaced blacks and jews as the new scapegoats. As long as that remains and discrimination is legal when it comes to LGBT people, then America won’t be truly free until the 14th amendment is applied to make it otherwise.

You’re probably wrong on that one. The fact is that these hate mongers hate themselves. And they hate the fact that they hate themselves. So they project their self hatred onto others. It makes them feel better. They don’t care if anyone else gets hurt because it’s far less painful than being hurt themselves. Their egos are far too fragile to let that happen, even to the point of self denial.

I think there is truth in both your comments.
Robert rightly points of that we are the last group they wish to blame everything on.
However I think John you hit the nail in with your comment about them projecting there own hatred onto others.
It’s what these fundamenatists do so well.

How embarrassing for the State of Tennessee when it is hauled to the US Supreme Court to explain WHY it enacted a law which is against a Supreme Court judgment in 1996 ? (The case was Romer v Evans. Google it ! :) )

I agree Will, it is embarrassing but I’m more worried about the people voting these people in, in the first place.
I mean what were they thinking and as you say to set that state back years.
It’s just bonkers.

I wonder how many businesses would stand behind their claims and move to other states? The massive increase in unemployment coupled to the losses of corporation taxes might make the Governor change his mind.

Let’s hope so.
I do think this needs to be a case of sense triumphing over madness.
People, especially in positions of power, cannot be allowed to continue to stifle humanities natural progression.
Of course, religion will keep trying but here’s hoping they loose more of there hot air.

The obverse of this, of course, is that if there is no anti-discrimination then there must now be legally sanctioned positive discrimination against gay people. Brilliant! It means that you are now legally protected, in the State of Tennessee, to attack anyone you fancy attacking just as long as they are gay. All non-gay persons being protected, by law against any such attack, because that would be illegal.
It just goes to show the rest of the civilised world what kind of warped mentality is succeeding in taking over the USA.
God help us all if any of them ever get their itchy fingers on that big red button.
Be afraid. Be very afraid. The heterosexist mob are everywhere.

Oh what a surprise… no-one else left to bash now, apart from the LGBT community. When will they sit up and take notice its the 21st Century? When will they stop trying to bring in draconian policies? Tennessee is the new Uganda.

All normal people living in the State of Tennessee, run now and claim your right to asylum in any other part of the planet (except Uganda, the country that your Senate has modelled its legislation on).
The Morlocks of Tennessee have taken over.
Repeat.
The Morlocks have taken over.
Run for your lives.

Exactly. Couldn’t agree with you more. We should have exactly the same legal protection as heterosexuals take for granted. All on the same level playing field and no more over-taxation of gay people to pay for heterosexual’s lifestyles.

Steve
If there was an awards for most uneducated comment I think you’ve just won first prize.
Why do these muppets think fighting to be equal means to be more protected?
As for keeping personal business personal, where and how has someone being LGBT affected you.
Somehow I think you make assumption because it’s hardly fact.

Yeah, just wonder if he’d respond with specifics, I mean he Must know that we are who we are and that we can’t hide that just as he can’t hide his bigotry.
Having said that being Gay is not some kind of ‘Act’ unlike some bigot, who chooses to be that way.
Though of course, yet again bigotry taught is fine to have in the open but not how people are born.
Of course when he’s says people he just means Gay people but in all seriousiness what do we do differently to straight people in the open?
Most Gay people don’t feel comfortable holding hands in public because of fear of attack, so thats out.
Even less people feel they can kiss in the street, again because of fear of attack, so thats out.
Yet at no time have I heard of a straight couple being attacked for doing either.
So Steve is part of the problem.
Only seeing what he believes.
Though in reality I doubt he’s seen anything, more just assumed or read it in the Daily Mail.
It’s so sad how these people can never have minds of there own.

I’ve just had a look at the wonderful wildlife pictures on their tourism website. Looks gorgeous. Actually it looks exactly the same as my country – Scotland. The only difference is that we don’t have grizzly bears and political bigots enacting Ugandan Law by the back door.
Save you’re money and come up here instead.
(You might catch sight of a few grizzly bears in a bar or two though)

> The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry initially supported the bill, saying it would help businesses in the state.
.
What an appalling statement – as if removing rights from minority groups should be enacted as being “good for business”.

Reading the Pink News which I have generally reviewed as a UK European forum, it is sad to see the number of US banner headlines of late in different states including Minnesota, Tennessee, all presenting propositions and proposals to change constitutions or enshrine bans which seek wipe out gay legal protection or allow people to speak out their prejudices about LGBT people, it presents a very discouraging picture or regression and oppression in the US, If this is the current voice of the people then it’s voice as an advocate of human rights on the world stage must surely be hypocritical when countries to the north and south and around the world are decades ahead in their thinking and attitudes, at least these countries won’t be bearing the shame their the prejudices of their ancestors.

What on Earth is happening to Tennessee.
I guess Religion happened.
It seems to be taking a massive step backwards.
Yet another bill that is wrong and openly allows discrimination.
Will they be demanding all LGBT people pay less tax as well?
Somehow I don’t suppose so for a minute.
It’s seems we are worth something when it comes to money but nothing when it comes to humanity.
Disgusting, truely disgusting, what next the same styled Uganda bill?
I see Bill Haslam is also an elder at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church and has been involved in Young Life and many faith-based organizations over the years.
You just knew this have the Evil undertones of religion plastered all over it.

The following companies were all on the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and sat idly by and did NOTHING as the toxic law passed – even though they were all informed well in advance what the law would do.

If you use anyv of the companies below then you should get in touch with them to tell them how disgusted you are by their refusal to take any action when it mattered. And to tell them you will be avoiding usng their goods and services until the toxic law is reversed.

I have never been more embarrassed to be from Tennessee. This is just one more reason our state has such a bad reputation within the US and globally. I live in Memphis, TN which is one of the most racially segregated cities in the US, but surprisingly has a fairly strong LGBT community. Hopefully, people like myself can change everyone else’s opinion of Tennessee. There’s more of us then you would think and we’re trying to make a change!

the governor of tennessee needs to be immediatlely removed from office, for harrassment and discrimination, and tryingd to inact hate attacks thru legislation upon the citizens in tennessee, and actions and sanctions and reprimands has to be given to all out of control officials and people who seek to harm and violate others rights like the white house just released a statement against bigotry and unconstitutional acts on inhumanenees, racism and bigotry is acts of terrorism and harrasment, and no official or group can be allowed to keep violating others, when their duty is to uphold fairness and equality as constitutional citizens themselves, serious actions must be take against these official like colbly and these others assaulters , media andjournalism needs also to get into these bigoted governores priveate background where there is guaranteed evil and corruption, in thier oown personal lives, check this mans own personal marriage, for sex trafficking , and underage pedephilia, and

Didn’t JFK, as the Republic’s chief magistrate, threaten intervention by Federal troops in Mississipi in the early 1960’s if they didn’t end racial segregation on college campuses according to national law?
I hope that one day lgbt discrimination is banned by Federal law and that the President of the day has a similar will to enforce it. ‘States’ rights’ shouldn’t be a licence to treat people how they like.

Having lived in the southern US due to inherited property (that I dumped at a huge loss to get out of there quickly) I can only say this is not a surprise, this is nothing new, this is the South and always was and likely always will be. This is why national and not local laws matter so much in the US. What is funny is that supposedly it is the Republicans who are the primary supporters of local control, one of many of their own principles they sweep under the rug when it suits their agenda. That they have the audacity to continue to associate themselves as the “party of Lincoln” is an abomination as they would be the first to vote against anyone like him today.

Great idea – why don’t we do away with all those annoying bits of the Race Act too that interfere with people’s divine right to be pig-ignorant racists? I mean why should we stop sad, losers with low self-esteem taking out their frustration by bullying others, eh?